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Per Unit Calculation help

It's been a while since I used per-unit calculation so I am embarrassing to say that I am drawing a blank when I ran into this. I requested the utility for available fault current at the transformer I was give this value.

250MVA transformer (138kv to 38kV), Z=11% with 100MVA. They told me to use infinite bus for my calculation.

So, I just need to find the new Z for 250MVA transformer right? Is this formula correct to find new Z?

Z (new) = Z (old) x ( S (base)/S (new) ) = 11 x ( 100/250 ) = 4.4%

Is this right? It seem Z is too low for this size transformer. I guess I can go back to my old power system book and verify but I thought asking here would be easier and more accurate. Thanks,

It's been a while since I used per-unit calculation so I am embarrassing to say that I am drawing a blank when I ran into this. I requested the utility for available fault current at the transformer I was give this value.

250MVA transformer (138kv to 38kV), Z=11% with 100MVA. They told me to use infinite bus for my calculation.

So, I just need to find the new Z for 250MVA transformer right? Is this formula correct to find new Z?

Z (new) = Z (old) x ( S (base)/S (new) ) = 11 x ( 100/250 ) = 4.4%

Is this right? It seem Z is too low for this size transformer. I guess I can go back to my old power system book and verify but I thought asking here would be easier and more accurate. Thanks,

Infinite bus just means that the amount of fault current through the transformer will only be limited by the transformer impedance itself. It appears what the utility gave you is the impedance of the system either on a 100MVA base or they are saying 100MVAsc; can't tell from the post. However, they are telling you to base your design on an infinite bus.

Thus a 250MVA transformer with impedance of say 8.5% (based on HV KVBIL of 650 and LV KVBIL of 150) will have an MVAsc = 250MVA/0.085 = 2941MVAsc
@ 38kV that is around 45kAsc.

However, those numbers may present a problem for 38kV rated equipment. 45KA is out of the range of 38kV gear either vacuum, dead tank or SF6. the limit is 40KA, also the maximum current rating is going to be 3000A but that require fan cooling.

To limit the current on infinite bus system, the maximum amount of fault current is going to need to be around 38kA (a little margin) thus you need an impedance on the transformer of around 10 to 10.5%. But that doesn't solve the issue of max continuous current which would limit the transformer MVA to around 165MVA or even less depending on manufacturer.

"Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they're not out to get you"

imo they gave him a 250 mva xfmr that had its pu z tested/measured at 100 mva
above 10-15% of rating xfmr v, i and hence s are linear, so z is constant

as most know the method to measure pu z (in this class each one is tested)
short the sec and apply v source to prim
increase v until sec i = rated, in this case due to testing equip limitations/safety they only went to 40% of rating
100 mva or 1520 A, valid since 40%>>10-15%
the test v applied to achieve this is 0.11 x 138000 = 15180 v
prim i = 1520/(138/38) = 418.55A
z = 15180/418.55 = 36.27 ohm 3 ph or 20.94 1 ph

imo they gave him a 250 mva xfmr that had its pu z tested/measured at 100 mva
above 10-15% of rating xfmr v, i and hence s are linear, so z is constant

Typically, the utility is not going to give you the impedance of a transformer on 100MVA base, mostly because, well they don't need too. They would just supply the nameplate data, but the OP is unclear on this point. They typically will give system data on a 100MVA base, but either provide R and X 3ph and 1ph, or X/R ratio. The fact they said use infinite bus for a 138kV-38KV system is odd from my experience since that is a transmission level voltage and typically those guys have system study info that can be provided.

"Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they're not out to get you"

Typically, the utility is not going to give you the impedance of a transformer on 100MVA base, mostly because, well they don't need too. They would just supply the nameplate data, but the OP is unclear on this point. They typically will give system data on a 100MVA base, but either provide R and X 3ph and 1ph, or X/R ratio. The fact they said use infinite bus for a 138kV-38KV system is odd from my experience since that is a transmission level voltage and typically those guys have system study info that can be provided.

the fact they told him to use infinite bus tells me the 11% is the 250 mva xfmr pu z on a 100 mva basis

if it was sc mva he could calc system impedance (but not resolve it into r + jx without the x/r ratio

if they are saying 100 mva sc on the primary that makes no sense since mva sc < 250 mva rating